Ryan Mathews has been giving Fantasy owners the touches we desire, but the numbers just aren't there. Dave Richard reviews some trades involving Mathews and also delivers an updated trade chart for Week 11.
By Dave Richard
• 7 min read
Our Trade Value Chart is designed to assist you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring league. The values assigned to the players below are strictly a measurement of their Fantasy value heading into the current week. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you might be able to get in return. This list should also provide a glimpse into how we feel about a player for the remainder of the season.
What if I told you there was a 20-touch running back available in your league? A guy whose name has basically been synonymous with the word "potential" since he was drafted into the NFL. A player who has received plenty of work but hasn't shown much for it so far this season.
Would you buy low? Because if you would, chances are the Ryan Mathews owner in your league would be all ears.
The last four games have been a big disappointment for Mathews' Fantasy production yet highlight his relevance to the Chargers and thus to Fantasy owners. In his last four he has 20-plus touches in three games (15 touches in the game he didn't get to 20 touches). That's good, right? Fantasy owners typically crave running backs who get that kind of work. But in those games he's scored zero touchdowns, fumbled the ball away once and clawed his way to just over 100 total yards once. He has only one run of 20-plus yards in that span too. That's not so good.
Worst of all, he's posted single-digit Fantasy points in all four games. Thus, his value is in the tank.
That's your cue to jump into trade talks. Mathews is worth adding to your Fantasy squad if you're running back needy or if you want to add some ... here comes that word again ... potential to your lineup.
Now there's no promise that he's going to suddenly pop off long runs or pick up bushels of touchdowns. He's still expected to keep losing passing down reps to Ronnie Brown and short-yardage/goal-line reps to Jackie Battle. But he's also expected to keep getting work as the primary Chargers running back because, after all, he's a better player than Brown and Battle.
Let's see what the market is like for Mathews heading into the trade deadline week for many of you.
Ryan Mathews for DeSean Jackson: Even with Mathews' weak production, this seems like a pretty good deal for the owner giving up Jackson. The Eagles' wideout has continued his inconsistent ways, failing to post even eight-plus Fantasy points in back-to-back games in standard leagues. Mathews' touches and role give him an edge over Jackson, especially now that a rookie is under center in Philadelphia. Jackson isn't enough for Mathews.
Ryan Mathews for Vincent Jackson: If the previous Jackson wasn't enough for Mathews, this one might be too much. Vincent Jackson is slightly more consistent than DeSean Jackson but he has had more big games and has a better quarterback, not to mention a better schedule. This trade works if the owner giving up Jackson is deep at receiver and weak at running back, but otherwise it just might be a smidge too much for Mathews even though Mathews plays at the premium position.
Ryan Mathews and Ben Roethlisberger for Miles Austin and Alfred Morris: Forget about this deal now that Big Ben hurt his shoulder, but had Roethlisberger gone unscathed it still would have been a bit sweeter for the team getting Morris and Austin. Morris is considered the safer Fantasy back at this point as he's coming off a bye and has some decent matchups down the stretch, though he could post even better numbers if the Redskins' passing game can become threatening again. And Austin is still considered a good Fantasy starter even though he's been in a two-week cold spell. Ultimately it's a tough break for the owner who just got Roethlisberger.
Ryan Mathews and Jared Cook for Jermaine Gresham and Dwayne Bowe: If we're talking PPR, the deal is fine. But in a standard league it seems like the Mathews owner is selling short. Or maybe he or she is just trying to solidify the tight end spot on his roster and pick up a receiver along the way. If Cook was a better tight end then it would work.
Ryan Mathews, Jackie Battle, Aaron Hernandez and Carson Palmer for Doug Martin and Ryan Fitzpatrick: These trades happen all the time near Fantasy trade deadlines where an owner on the cusp of a playoff spot deals off a stud to fill up the roster at other positions. The Mathews/Battle combo platter pales in comparison to Martin but Aaron Hernandez should make an impact once his ankle heals and Palmer is a good upgrade over Fitzpatrick. That gives the team with fledgling playoff hopes a chance to compete and a winning deal. But the owner getting Martin shouldn't be moody over the deal either -- he probably traded his backup quarterback and a tight end he hasn't been able to use for one of the best rushers in Fantasy. The trade chart says the Mathews package is more valuable but playoff-bound teams can afford to give a lot to get a stud.
Player | Value | Player | Value | Player | Value |
Arian Foster, RB, HOU | 36 | Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET | 14 | Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR | 6 |
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN | 35 | Darren McFadden, RB, OAK | 13 | Greg Jennings, WR, GB | 6 |
Ray Rice, RB, BAL | 32 | Reggie Bush, RB, MIA | 12 | Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, OAK | 5 |
Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA | 32 | Dez Bryant, WR, DAL | 12 | Kenny Britt, WR, TEN | 5 |
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB | 27 | Eli Manning, QB, NYG | 12 | Andre Roberts, WR, ARI | 5 |
Drew Brees, QB, NO | 25 | Antonio Gates, TE, SD | 11 | Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT | 5 |
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET | 25 | Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL | 11 | Danario Alexander, WR, SD | 5 |
A.J. Green, WR, CIN | 25 | Tony Romo, QB, DAL | 11 | Felix Jones, RB, DAL | 5 |
Tom Brady, QB, NE | 25 | DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI | 11 | Marcel Reece, RB, OAK | 5 |
Peyton Manning, QB, DEN | 25 | Fred Jackson, RB, BUF | 11 | Rashad Jennings, RB, JAC | 5 |
Doug Martin, RB, TB | 24 | DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL | 11 | Vick Ballard, RB, IND | 5 |
LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI | 24 | Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE | 10 | Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC | 5 |
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL | 24 | Josh Freeman, QB, TB | 10 | 49ers/Bears/Texans DSTs | 4 |
Chris Johnson, RB, TEN | 23 | Steven Jackson, RB, STL | 10 | Greg Olsen, TE, CAR | 4 |
Stevan Ridley, RB, NE | 22 | Torrey Smith, WR, BAL | 10 | Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN | 4 |
Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN | 22 | Steve Smith, WR, CAR | 10 | Daniel Thomas, RB, MIA | 4 |
Jimmy Graham, TE, NO | 21 | Mike Williams, WR, TB | 9 | Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL | 4 |
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE | 21 | James Jones, WR, GB | 9 | Isaac Redman, RB, PIT | 4 |
Trent Richardson, RB, CLE | 21 | Sidney Rice, WR, SEA | 9 | Pierre Thomas, RB, NO | 4 |
Julio Jones, WR, ATL | 21 | Darren Sproles, RB, NO | 9 | Mark Ingram, RB, NO | 4 |
Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI | 21 | Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ | 8 | Chris Ivory, RB, NO | 4 |
Frank Gore, RB, SF | 20 | Danny Amendola, WR, STL | 8 | Jonathan Dwyer, RB, PIT | 4 |
Matthew Stafford, QB, DET | 20 | Titus Young, WR, DET | 8 | Vernon Davis, TE, SF | 4 |
Eric Decker, WR, DEN | 19 | Lance Moore, WR, NO | 8 | Alex Green, RB, GB | 4 |
Matt Forte, RB, CHI | 19 | Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI | 8 | Josh Gordon, WR, CLE | 4 |
Roddy White, WR, ATL | 19 | Steve Johnson, WR, BUF | 8 | LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, ARI | 3 |
Vincent Jackson, WR, TB | 18 | Owen Daniels, TE, HOU | 8 | Joe Flacco, QB, BAL | 3 |
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI | 18 | Philip Rivers, QB, SD | 8 | Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET | 3 |
Victor Cruz, WR, NYG | 18 | Carson Palmer, QB, OAK | 8 | Nate Washington, WR, TEN | 3 |
Jamaal Charles, RB, KC | 17 | Heath Miller, TE, PIT | 8 | Kendall Wright, WR, TEN | 3 |
Alfred Morris, RB, WAS | 17 | Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG | 8 | Scott Chandler, TE, BUF | 3 |
Reggie Wayne, WR, IND | 17 | Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC | 8 | Beanie Wells, RB, ARI | 3 |
Marques Colston, WR, NO | 17 | Jason Witten, TE, DAL | 7 | Dwayne Allen, TE, IND | 3 |
Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS | 17 | Malcom Floyd, WR, SD | 7 | Donald Brown, RB, IND | 3 |
Andre Johnson, WR, HOU | 17 | Cecil Shorts, WR, JAC | 7 | Andy Dalton, QB, CIN | 2 |
Willis McGahee, RB, DEN | 17 | Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG | 7 | Joique Bell, RB, DET | 2 |
Percy Harvin, WR, MIN | 16 | Michael Turner, RB, ATL | 7 | Jeremy Kerley, WR, NYJ | 2 |
Randall Cobb, WR, GB | 16 | Matt Schaub, QB, HOU | 7 | Brandon Stokley, WR, DEN | 2 |
Miles Austin, WR, DAL | 16 | Antonio Brown, WR, PIT | 7 | TY Hilton, WR, IND | 2 |
Cam Newton, QB, CAR | 16 | Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN | 6 | Brandon Myers, TE, OAK | 2 |
Ryan Mathews, RB, SD | 16 | Dustin Keller, TE, NYJ | 6 | Ronnie Brown, RB, SD | 2 |
Wes Welker, WR, NE | 16 | Michael Crabtree, WR, SF | 6 | Joel Dreessen, TE, DEN | 2 |
Mike Wallace, WR, PIT | 16 | Brian Hartline, WR, MIA | 6 | Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS | 2 |
C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF | 15 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT | 6 | Michael Floyd, WR, ARI | 2 |
Denarius Moore, WR, OAK | 15 | Brandon Lloyd, WR, NE | 6 | Michael Vick, QB, PHI | 2 |
Jordy Nelson, WR, GB | 15 | Andre Brown, RB, NYG | 6 | Chris Givens, WR, STL | 2 |
Andrew Luck, QB, IND | 14 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN | 6 | Cedric Benson, RB, GB | 2 |
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